Archbishop bids to recover €1.5m

THE Archbishop of Dublin has secured summary judgment for €1.5 million against a Dublin solicitor who admitted misappropriation of the amount after it was bequeathed to the church for charitable purposes.

In granting judgment to Dr Martin at the Commercial Court yesterday against Ruairi O’ Ceallaigh, Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the case involved “unalloyed dishonesty of an unattractive type”.

The court heard Dr Martin had received €155,000 from the estate of the late Donal O’ Suilleabhain of the firm Sean O’ Ceallaigh & Co Solicitors but only realised a further €1.5m was due to the church after media reports last August of Law Society proceedings against the firm.